Picking-rod.



G.A.STANLBY Plum-NG Ron;

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8. 1906.

' PATVENIED MAR. 19,y 19074.

CLARENCE A. STANLEY, CE CAMBRIDGE, MARYLAND.

PICKING-ROD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 19, 1907.

Application led June 8, 1906. Serial No. 320,860.

T0 all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, CLARENCE A. STAN- LEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cambridge, in the county of Dorchester, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Picking- Rods; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to picking-rods, and more particularly to a device of that nature for pulling or removing cornstalks from the ground, although the same is equally well adapted for use in stores in removing or lifting articles from the show-windows and for other purposes of a like nature.

The invention will be more fully understood from a consideration of the following detailed description and from an inspection of the accompanying drawing, in Which- Figure 1 is an elevation of a picking-rod constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, 5 designates the shank of the picker, having a horizontallyarranged handle 6 secured to one end. Pivoted to said shank at the handle end thereof is an o erating-lever 7, connected by a link 8 with tllfe inner end of a curved rod 9, pivoted to said shank intermediate its ends and carrying a horizontally-arranged jaw 10 at its outer end, the corresponding end of the shank having secured thereto a similarly-arranged jaw 11. Rod 9, as shown, is formed with an outward or convex bend intermediate its ends, which are themselves approximately straight.

The jaws 10 and 11 are normally held apart from each other by means of a retractile springy 12, secured to shank 5 and to what may be termed the j aw end of rod 9. To close said jaws, it is obviously necessary merely to draw the operating-lever 7 toward the shank-handle 6.

In order to limit the swinging movement of the curved rod 9, agage-rod 13 is pivoted at its inner end to the shank 5 and is disposed with its outer end extending through a longitudinal slot 14, formed at the inner end of .rod 9, the outer end of rod 13 being threaded,

as shown, and provided with a pair of nuts l5, mounted thereon at opposite sides of rod 9. By shifting theposition of said nuts upon the gage-rod the play of said rod Within the slotted end of rod 9 will be correspondingly increased or decreased, as desired.

Slight modifications and changes may obviously be made in the size, location, and arrangement of the various parts of the device Without departing from the spirit of the invention, which latter is therefore not intended to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described.

What is claimed is 1. A picking-rod, comprising, in combination, a shank, provided at one end with a horizontally-arranged jawI secured thereto, and at the other end with a horizontally-arranged handle; a curved rod pivoted intermediate its ends to the jaw end of said shank; a horizontally-arranged jaw secured to the outer end of said curved rod a lever pivoted at one end to the handle end of said shank and in proximity to the handle; a link connecting said lever and curved rod; a spring connecting said curved rod and shank for normally holding said jaws in open position; and a gage connecting said shank and the inner end of said curved rod, for limiting the movement of said curved rod.

2. A picking-rod, comprising, in combination, a Shank, provided at one end with a horizontally-arranged handle, and at the other end with a horizontally-arranged jaw a curved rod pivoted intermediate its ends to the aw ends of said shank, said curved rod having a horizontally-arranged jaw'secured to its outer end, and being formed with a longitudinal slot at its inner end; an operatinglever pivoted at one end to the handle end of said shank; a link connecting said lever with the inner end of said curved rod; a spring connecting the jaw side of said curved rod with said shank for normally holding said jaws in open position with respect tol each other a gage-rod secured at one end to said shank and disposed with its opposite end eX- tending through the slot in said curved rod; and a pair of nuts arranged on said gage-rod on opposite sides of said curved rod, for limiting the swinging movement thereof.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of witnesses.

CLARENCE A. STANLEY.

Witnesses:

W. IRvING MACE, EDWIN S. LAKE, L. PHILIP SK-INNER. 

